Directional control air diffuser



June 23,- 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Now-18, 1954 ATTORNEY June 23, 1959 c. N. ODAY 2,391,461

' DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AIR DIFFUSER Filed Nov. 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTORNEY I INVENTOR Corimajl f DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AIR DIFFUSER Cortland N. ODay, Port Washington, N.Y.

Application November 18, 1954, Serial No. 469,579

10 Claims. 7 (CI. 98-40) The present invention relates to a directional air diffuser control system and it particularly relates to a sectionalized air directional control flow outlet diffuser. It is among the specific objects of the present invention to provide a novel sectionalized 'air' directional control diffuser which, without change in outward appearance, and by relatively simple manipulation, will give adequate and desired directional control of the air which is being distributed in the room or enclosure.

In oflice buildings, factories, lofts and other enclosures where ventilating or conditioned air is to be admitted at the ceiling and then subjected to a control diffusion, the problem arises as to how this control may be accomplished independent of the position in which the diffuser is placed in the ceiling and with due regard to the location of partitions, other difiusers, or air outlets, filing cabinets, bookcases, pillars, and working arrangements.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a sectionalized air directional control outlet particularly designed for location in ceilings of rooms, oflices, lofts or the like in which it will be readily possible to control the horizontal and vertical distribution of the outflowing air around a 360 periphery, with a minimum of adjusting structure and by relatively simple manually actuated devices not requiring the use of tools or skilled workmen.

It has been found in the distribution of air in homes, oflice buildings and factories, and particularly in connection with the provision of air diflusers in ceilings and sometimes in walls, that directional'eontrol of the emitted air and proper distribution thereof has great bearing upon United States Patent the efficiency of the entire ventilating and air conditioning system. i g

It is therefore among the further objects of the present invention to provide a directional control and blanking system to be associated with air outlet diffusers and which will greatly enhance the efliciency of the will assure most satisfactory directional control over the E flow, distribution and direction of incoming ventilated or conditioned air which may be readily adjusted to suit interior working conditions and changing locations of desks, machine tools, display closets, display racks and varying columns, partition walls and lighting fixtures or advertising arrangements without requiring reconstruction or dismantling or replacement of air conditioning or ventilating units or diffuser outlets.

Another object is to provide a novel controlled air diffuser outlet system in which by relatively simple manipulation, without tools or requirement of metal workers or other skilled workmen, it is possible for the person actually using the space in an ofi'ice, factory, showroom or loft to regulate the directional distribution or peripheral direction of the incoming ventilating or conice 2 v of the workers and to provide the best distribution of air, considering the location of closets, files,-furniture and other equipment whether it be ofiice equipment, factory equipment or display equipment. i I I A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel air difiuser system in which thegair difluser arrangement may be quickly and accurately adjusted to accommodate itself to changingconditions of partitions, columns and lighting fixtures, and to give suchdesired distribution without excessive flow as against a wall, column or partition which would cause streaking or marring of the same, without the need of reconstruction or "dismantling and replacement of diffusers and without substantial change in the capacity'or total air flow therethrough v I A further object of the-present invention is to provide a novel directionally controlled diffuser for ceilinguse in which it is possible to considerably vary'the peripheral distribution of the air to satisfy and accommodate 'the needs for those working in'the room or enclosure, while maintaining a horizontal ceiling distributionwhich will assure most adequate flow of air over and through the entire place to be ventilated or conditioned.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being 'understood, however, that this more detailed 'description' 'is given by way of illustration'and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention' In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory in one embodiment of the invention to provide a ceiling diffuser of circular, square, oval, rectangular or other shape with aplurality of superimposed or parallelly disposed plates forming a series of successively wider diameter peripheral outflow air passages Although'this invention will be particularly described with application to a circular air difiuser of this character; it is to be understood that it has a bioaderapplication to rectangular, square,- moon-shaped, quarter-circular, half-circular or even oval' or elliptical outlet diffusers According. tothe preferred embodimentof'the present invention, the main peripheral outflow passageway is provided with a series of adjustable vanes or plates which can be readily manipulated" from the outside of 'the diffuser by haridfand due to their shape and=size,fwill deflect or partly'cut off the air flowing through the par-5 ticular section of the diffuser which they control; I It has been found most satisfactory to provideflthese vanes so. that they are positioned subs'tantiallyparallel between two superimposed plates or annular rings forming the peripheral air passages in the main difluser v s s},- These vanes may be pivotally mounted interiorly,"and less preferably exteriorly, between the superimposedbr parallel circular plate or ring structures and a series ofadjusting vanes' may extend around the entire periphery V. v u;

Although a series of, say four, six or eight, vanes piv otally mounted interiorly of the diiruser may be positioned in each peripheral flow passage between the 'vari-' ditioned air so as to accommodate the needs and desires ous superimposed plates of the diffuser, it has'been found" most satisfactory in circular, rectangular or square difiusers to provide four such vanes arranged so eachwill control a 45 to range or spread.

These vanes are so positioned that they may be readily adjusted from the outside by insertion of the hand in the openings of the diffuser, and the hinge attachment of the vanes is such that they will hold in adjusted position due, to the friction or resiliency at the hinge,

To regulate the throw of the vanes; stops may b'e'provided' which may be adjustable. In less preferred embodiments the vanes may be provided with screw adjustments so that they may be individually adjusted together. In the preferred structure, the vanes are flat but if desired they could be curved or conform to the shape of the adjacent diffuser plates.

- With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sectionalized air directional control difluser, according to the present invention, partly broken away to show the location of the control vanes and the detachable connection arrangement.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 22 of Fig. 1, upon the same scale as Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view of the spider mounting for the lower part of the diifuser arrangement, including the adjustable vane construction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary top perspective view of the lower detachable portion of the diffuser construction, showing the swinging vanes, as well as the lower plate members of the diffuser construction.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the sectionalized air directional control diffuser of Figs. 1 to 4, showing the adjustable control or deflecting vane in inactive or in ineffective position.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing the deflector vane raised to active position where it will give substantially maximum deflection to the out going air stream.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side sectional view similar to Fig. 5 in which the deflecting or control vane is adjusted to substantially flush or horizontal position so that the out going stream is deflected to an angle between the deflection of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side sectional view similar to Fig. 5 in which the deflector is raised to maximum elevation to serve as a blanking element and prevent egress of air except around the periphery or edges of the deflector.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a diffuser having an inlet conduit member A which may be connected with the transverse, vertical conduits of a ceilingenclosed air conditioning distribution system.

This diifuser has a series of fixed, parallel, superimposed, horizontal plates B, C, and D which form the peripheral 360 flow passageways E and F.

In the arrangement shown, the flow passageway B will pick up and distribute the major portion of the air flow through the inlet conduit A and will normally evenly distribute it around the 360 more or less parallelly to the ceiling and parallel to the plates C and D.

The flow passage F will also distribute a minor portion of the incoming air flow through the conduit A around 360 and will tend to distribute this minor portion of air more downwardly but still substantially horizontally and parallelly to the ceiling and horizontally and parallelly to the plane of the plate members B and C.

This invention is particularly directed to the directional control vanes or plates G, four of which are shown, but it may be in larger or smaller number.

In the arrangement shown, the plates control substantially 300 of the periphery, although it has been found satisfactory that they only control about 180 to 220 and frequently desirable results are obtained with even a narrower control range.

These vanes G, as shown, are normally frictionally or spring-hinged at H interiorly of the difiuser and adjacent the axis thereof so as to hold them in adjusted position against the flow of air, and these may be adjusted by the hand from the exterior of the diifuser through the flow passage E, to control the position of each of such vanes G to give the desired air directional flow.

Referring specifically to the diffuser construction, the conduit A is either of circular or square cross section and it may be spot weldedor riveted to the main, transverse conduit, not disclosed.

This conduit desirably has an outward base flange 10 from the lower end 11 thereof.

The flange 10, which may be separated from or be an integral part of the spinning forming the conduit A, has a step-down 12 and a further horizontal extension 13.

Beyond that the spinning turns obliquely downwardly to form a downward air baffle or deflected portion, and then has a vertical, cylindrical portion 15.

This vertical, cylindrical portion 15 terminates in the upwardly extending curved, peripheral lip 16. This lip terminates in the outside bead 17 which will contact the ceiling at the line 18. I

A series of Z-shaped brackets 19 are mounted at their upper, horizontal flanges 20 by spot welding 21 upon the horizontal, peripheral section 10. At the lower ends of the brackets 19, the flanges 22, by spot welding 23, will be mounted on the reinforcement or annulus ring 24. This ring 24 is connected by the resilient tongues 75 to the horizontal section 25 of the plate C. The plate C has a central opening 26, which together with the central opening 26a in the ring 2 provides a flow opening through which the residual, incoming air flow, as indicated by the arrows 27, may pass. The major portion, however, will flow between the plates C and D through the passageway E.

This annular horizontal element 25 has a downwardly curved peripheral portion 27 adjacent its outer periphery which terminates in the upturned curved lip 28. The outer edge of this lip has a bead at 29.

The lower plate B has a central dished portion 40 with the intermediate step 41 and an outer, upwardly curved lip portion 42 which terminates in the bead 43.

The up-curved portion 42 is connected by the sleeves 44 and bolts 45 to the bottom face of the section 25 of the plate C.

The upper ends of the bolts 45 may be held in position by the nuts 46.

The present invention is particularly directed to the vanes G which are shown as of rectangular shape with' outer straight edges 60 closely conforming to and slightly spaced inwardly from the head 29 on the plate C when they are in down position.

These swinging or adjustable plates or vanes G have the inwardly directed parallel side edges 61.

The hinged structure H is desirably mounted upon the mounting square member 47 and it will have a friction or spring element so as to hold the vanes in either up, down or intermediate adjusted position, depending upon how it is desired to control the direction of flow of air through any of the quadrants, four being selected in Fig. 1.

The entire unit, consisting of the rectangular dished plates B and C, and the adjustable vanes G, with the hinged structure H, together with the mounting plate 47, may be readily attached and detached by the resilient tongues 75 which are stamped out of the material of the mounting plate 47, as indicated at 76. These tongues 75 may be inserted through the openings 77 in the annulus or ring 24.

When the resilient tongues 75 are inserted through the openings 77 and the plate 47 is turned relatively to the mounting ring 24, the ends '78 of the spring tongue 75 will move over inside spot-welded portions 79 of the Z brackets 19.

This will. hold the structure shown in Fig. 4 in position, and will position the adjustable vanes G, so that each vane will be parallel at its outer edge 60 to a corresponding bead 29 at one side of the dished plate C. I

-=The upturned end 80 of the spring tongue or clip 75 will be stopped against the edge 81 of the opening 77 when the structure of Fig. 4 is rotated into home position, as shown in Fig. 1. The stitches 82 of Figs. 1 and 4 serve to hold the stationary dished plate C and the squared mounting plate 47 together.

' By providing a dismountable unit, it:,ispossible to changethe unit so as to eliminate the adjustable vanes G, or to provide other arrangements for the adjustable vanes G. As for example, instead of four vanes it is possible to provide eight vanes which will give abetter or more exact sectionalized air directional elfect.

2 Also it is possible to omit one or more of the vanes.

I-tjs also possible to provide fixed blanking-out elements,

as for example, Where one of the vanes G is mounted so asto-be permanently in elevated position, as. for ex ample, as indicated at the upper left of Fig. 4.

' The directional effect of adjustment of the vanes is best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7. It will be noted that thesurfaces 16, 28 and 42 lie substantially in the same, plane.

which is at an angle of about seven degrees from the.

horizontal, but which may vary from 5 to and up to, if desired, to 30. By providing a common upwardly inclined plane for the air stream contact surfaces '16, 28 and 42, assurance is had that the air will smoothly expand toward the ceiling line Z as it moves outwardly through the peripheral openings E and F.

vvThis expansion effect is particularly advantageous in that there is a prohibition and prevention of eddy currents about the out-flowing stream. of air through the peripheral exits E and P which will prevent room dirt from being collected in eddies with resultant dust upon the ceiling andupon the edges of the deflector.

It has been found that the maximum angle which will prevent formation of smudge causing eddy currents is a 70 angle or an angle between 5 and 10 which will incline toward the ceiling line as indicated by the lower surfaces 16, 28 and 42 of the spinnings which form the basic structural elements B, C and D of the circular diffuser structure.

Although the vanes G will change the axis of the maxi mumstream, for example, from the position shown in Fig.- 5, to the position shown in Fig. 6, with an intermediate position as indicated in Fig. 7 they will not prevent the smooth lateral expansion toward and along ceiling line Z to prevent the smudging difliculties. It will be particularly noted that the smooth slightly inclined peripheral lip 16 does not form sharp corners or recesses adjacent to the ceiling which would be conducive to smudge forming eddy currents.

i It is important that the width or spacing of the lip 16 of the base spinning'D have at least as great a width as the. corresponding inclined faces of the spinnings B, C. In all cases, it has been found that the inclined portions of the spinnings B and C which face downwardly and control the direction of lateral flow of air should form a shallowconical surface of revolution having an inclination of between 5 and 10 to the horizontal and preferably to about 7 and never exceed 20 to Referring specifically to the diagrammatic views 5 to 8, in Fig. 5 the deflection vane G is shown in its lowermost position so that the air being emitted through the flow passages E and F will flow substantially horizontally and parall'ely to the. ceiling G with there being a smooth expansion toward the ceiling without smudge forming vacirum pockets or eddies being formed.

The main air stream is indicated by the arrow 95 and this should carry between 40 to 75% of the emitted air which will gradually expand over an angle 96 which is about 14", which is 7 about horizontal and about 7 below horizontal. will comprise a minor proportion of the outflowing air, has its primary direction at 97 and it Willca'rry-abOut-QS as shown Fig. 4,.

The secondary air stream 97 which to 45% of the total emitted air. The angle 98 shows the angle of expansion of the emitted air stream passing through the peripheral opening F and again it will be noted that this air stream expands at an angle of about 14 with the upper portion of 7 about the horizontal causing the emitted secondary air stream 97 to smoothly conform and mix with the main air stream 95.

These two air streams together will assure a smooth flow and turbulence of the incoming new air passing through the peripheral openings and mouths E and F and will give suificient turbulence to draw up room air from below the diffuser which will assure that there will be a thorough mixture and combination of theincorning fresh new air of lower temperature with the old higher temperature air which has been in the room for a considerable length of time without there being any creation of drafts or concentration of the incoming relatively cool air in the living portion of the room.

By the arrangement as shown in Fig. 5, such mixture is assured of the room air and the incoming fresh air without at the same time there being any vacuum pocket formation or eddy current formation.

Now leaving the inactive position of Fig. 5 and moving the vane to its 60 deflector position of Fig. 6, it will be noted here that the air is caused 'to rebound against the conical surface 14 with the result that the main air stream indicated by the arrow 99 will have an angle of about 45 to 60 to the horizontal.

At the same time, although room air will be drawn in as indicated by the arrow 100, the angle and extension of the spinning D will be such as to keep a smooth flow to insure at the periphery of the upper basic spinning D which will prevent vacuum pockets and eddy currents forming adjacent the ceiling Z.

It is apparent from a comparison of Figs. 5 and 6 a relatively slight change in the position of the vane G will altogether change the pattern of air distribution with the result that this slight adjustment of the vane G from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6 will cause a different flow of the outgoing fresh cool air and also a different flow of the room air which is being mixed with the emitted air from the difiuser.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, there is an intermediate position of the vane G in which the main stream 101 is positioned about half way between the horizontal direction of Fig. 5 and the 60 downward direction 99 of Fig. 6. This horizontal position of the vane G will control the out-flowing air to an intermediate position.

At the same time the alignment of the outer positions of the spinnings B, C and D will prevent smudging and deposition on the ceiling at Z as well as on the structural spinnings B, C and D.

In the final position, as shown in Fig. 8, the vane G is thrown to its maximum elevation, air will blank ofi a section of the diffuser and substantially decrease the outflowing air in said sector except around the ends or edges of the deflector elements G closer together, it is possible to decrease the amount of air spilling around the edges of the deflectors G in their maximum elevational position as shown in Fig. 8.

By adjusting the vanes to up or down position in various combinations, as indicated in Figs. 5 to 8, it is pos- V The relative spacing of plates B, C and D will always be the same, regardless of the vane adjustment. By this vane adjustment it is possible to vary the angle of discharge practicallybetween 40 to 60 downwardly to substantially horizontal, and this is achieved by-a relatively-- simple manipulation without bolts, screws or other complicated arrangements.

The same arrangement may also be. applied to a rectangular diffuser with one or two vanes G being provided for each side of the rectangular diffuser so that there will be a control of'substantially 360 of the periphery.

The vanes G are normally frictionally or spring hinged. so that they will be held in fixed adjusted position without being moved by the flow of air thereover.

It is possible to adjust the vanes G over one, two, three or four quadrants so as to control the directional flow in these quadrants. is an adjacent wall or column or lighting fixture. The flow of air may be distributed over an area of 90 to 360 to accommodate to equipment, desks, display cases or machines in the room or enclosure.

By the arrangement shown, it is a relatively simple matter for a person to climb a ladder or chair and adjust the distribution of air flow for those working in the space or to assure better distribution with the varying spacing of walls, partitions, cabinets, bookcases, desks and the like.

The distribution of air may be readily changed, varying with the climate, temperature or humidity conditions and at all times, without rearranging or reconstructing or dismantling the distribution system, it is possible to obtain a regulated directional control of the flow of air.

The diffusers as constructed involve no increased expense and their installation cost is the same and, nevertheless, they have a flexibility and directional control feature which enables much more satisfactory utilization in the ofiice, factory or home.

The arrangement of the present invention is particularly desirable for spot heating, spot cooling, air conditioning and to give limited heating, direct occupant evaporative cooling and also to avoid ceiling, room or floor obstructions. The air discharge patterns may be varied from quadrant to quadrant and may give a down direction of 30 to 70 on one, two, three or four sides or any selec tion of such sides.

Moreover, the vanes may be turned to inactive position so that the air stream: will be emitted as desired.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a centralized air distribution system having main and branch air distributing conduits, a directional air.

control difluser attached to the end of a branch conduit comprising inner, middle and outer dished plates of decreasing diameter outwardly, said inner and middle plates being mounted on each other by Z-shaped brackets and said middle and outer plates being mounted on each other by bolts and. spacer sleeves, said inner and middle plates having central openings, and hinged and swinging vanes mounted on the edges of the central opening of the middle plate and extending outwardly between the inner and middle plates, hinge connections for said vanes positioned at the inner periphery of the middle plate, said inner and middle plates having central portions dished inwardly and concave downwardly and outside peripheral portions dished outwardly and concave upwardly and said outer plate being entirely dished outwardly and concave upwardly and said outward dished portions all lying in substantially the same conical surface, said vanes terminating inside of the outer periphery of the middle plate.

2. The diffuser of claim 1, said middle and outer plates being detachably secured upon said brackets.

3. The diffuser of claim 1, said hinged vanes occupying an area of about 80 but there being sufficient space This is desirable where there.

between the ends of the vanes so as to permit p-asage. of" air in the interval between the vanes.

4. A directional control air diffuser comprisingsuperimposed upper and lower concentric annular plate members each with interiorly downwardly facing concave central portions having central openings and exterior'up wardly facing concave peripheral portions joined together intermediately of said plate members, and a cen-'' tral lowermost plate suspended from said lower plate and covering the central openings of said upper and lower plates and a plurality of peripherally arranged manually adjustable swinging vane members pivotally mounted ad jacent the interior edge of the lower concentric platemembers and extending outwardly toward, and terminating short of, the exterior edge ofthe lower plate member and swingable from the adjacent lower plate member up to against the upper plate member.

5. The dilfuser of claim 4, the outer periphery of said lower plate terminating inside of the interior concave portion of the upper plate and the outer periphery of the vane members swinging between the downwardlyfacing concave central portion of the upper plate member and the peripheral portion of the lower plate member and being hingedly mounted inside of the interior conmve central portion of the lower plate.

6-. The difiuser of claim 4, said diffuser also havingthe peripheral portions of said plate members formingfrusto-conicaI sections all positioned approximately in the same inverted shallow conical surface of revolution and said lowermost plate extending across and substantially covering the downwardly facing concave central portion of the lower plate and terminating at its outer air diffuser comprising two dished substantially parallel superimposed diffuser plates, an upper one against the ceiling and a lower one positioned slightly below the ceiling, having downwardly facing central concave portions with central openings and with peripheral annular upwardly facing concave terminal portions, a verticalinlet air conduit opening into the central opening of the concave portion of the upper plate, said diffuser plates being connected to each other by brackets extending between the upper parts of the respective deep concave portions, the outermost periphery of the lower difiuser" plate terminating substantially inside of the junction of the central concave portion and peripheral annular portion of the upper difiuser plate, and a plurality of spaced radially outwardly extending swinging vanes arranged around the lower diffuser plate and having hinge mounts on the top of the central concave portion of the lower diffuser and said vanes extending outwardly into and" movable upwardly and downwardly in the space between.

and below the outer area of the central concave portion of the upper diffuser plate and above the shallow peripheral terminal portion of the lower diffuser plate to give said directional control, the vanes at their outer ends terminating inside of the outer periphery of the lower plate, and a lowermost plate suspended from and below the lower diffuser plate and covering said centralopen: ings in the upper and lower diffuser plates.

9. The diffuser of claim 8, said brackets carrying an attachment ring at their lower ends, and said lower plate and said lowermost swinging vanes having detachable connections to said bracket ring.

10. The diffuser of claim 8, said diffuser being rectangular and having four sides each of which is provided:

with a. swinging vane, the hinges of said vanes extending parallelly to said sides outside of said brackets and on the:

10 top of the downwardly facing concave portion of the 2,369,303 Kurth et a1 Feb. 13, 1945 lower plate. 2,403,291 Kurth July 2, 1946 2,433,981 Buck Jan. 6, 1948 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,558,421 Daninhirsch June 26, 1951 UN STATES PATENTS 5 2,735,352 Demuth Feb. 21, 1956 1,101,642 Lenling June 30, 1914 2,269,376 ODay Jan. 6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Dauphinee Dec 26 Great Oct 

